A New Beginning [Part 2]

As Austin adjusted to his new reality, his thoughts were a mixture of wonder and frustration.

"So, this is my new family?" Austin mused as he moved his tiny head with difficulty.

'Damn, why is moving my head so difficult!?' Moving his body had never been so laborious until now… On second thought, back when he was stuck in that dark place, he could not move his body either. At least, back then he still had his original body's strength, which, though not much, was more than enough for his limbs to move without difficulty. However, now that he was a baby, even the smallest movement required herculean strength, leaving him breathless and exhausted.

Austin glanced up at the woman who was cradling him.

'Hmmm, so this should be my mother? A blonde-haired beautiful Elf woman. Though it is rude of me to think and say Goddess Luna was far more beautiful. Then again, it is wrong of me to compare the two women. After all, one is a Goddess while the other is… a mortal?' Austin was unsure how to classify his mother. That being said, even through the cloth that was wrapped around his body, he felt a certain warmth from being in his mother's arms. The warmth was oddly satisfying. Wrapped in his mother's embrace, Austin felt a sense of security he hadn't known before.

'I could get used to this feeling.' His mother's eyes were so gentle and full of love.

'The crying, worried, bare-chested pervert should be my father. He's handsome… a bit too handsome…' Austin grumbled. Life was way too unfair. How could this pervert of a father be so handsome? Was there no justice left in the world? While Austin cursed the unfairness of the world, he realized something he had overlooked. 'Though if I'm his son doesn't that mean I inherited his looks? Hopefully, I didn't inherit his perverted nature.' Austin wondered how someone could walk around bare-chested and not be a pervert. Were there no police officers in this world?

'The two middle-aged men standing beside the bed should be my grandfathers. The red-haired, red-eyed man should be my paternal grandfather. Whereas the blonde-haired, green-eyed Elf should be my maternal grandfather.'

Austin didn't know how much time had elapsed since he met Ulric, the Supreme God.

Ulric had explained several methods he could use for his rebirth.

The first method was to place his Soul in someone's body who had just died. Then Austin would have to act like that person forever, which was a big no. If it was discovered that he was not the original owner of the body, getting killed would be the least of his worries. He would probably suffer untold torture. And like anyone else… he would rather not experience torture.

The second method was similar to the first method, yet it was even more dangerous. The method was for Austin's Soul to be placed into a still-living Being's body and then he would have to fight the other Soul for dominance over the body. The winner would obtain the body and the memories of the other Soul.

There were a few more methods, yet Austin was adamant against those methods because they were methods that involved certain death or at least a high guarantee of him dying. Preferably, he wanted to continue living like anybody else. 

The only method that did not have danger involved and quickly earned Austin's approval was a full rebirth from infancy. It was the best method since that way his Race being different from his parents would not cause doubt in others. If one day, someone they knew was Human since birth suddenly changed to a different Race overnight, that would cause doubt to grow. That was why Austin chose his reincarnation to be natural, and though there was no danger involved in the method, there was a slight problem. For Austin to be reincarnated as the Race he 'won' from the stupid spin wheel, his soul would be frozen in time until the right conditions were met. 

Fortunately, his reincarnation was successful. 

He had a beautiful loving family. 

He felt so warm and secure in his mother's embrace. 

In his past life, warmth and security were sensations that he never experienced.

They were sensations that he was close to obtaining with his adoptive parents, but was robbed of. 

'If anyone dares to even think about harming my family, I'll make them pay with blood.' Austin mused. 'As for the apocalypse… I don't know how much time I have left, but I will ensure it doesn't take my happiness away either. Not just for my family and myself, for Ulric who gave me this new life.' 

Suddenly, while Austin was lost in thought, he felt a soft, slippery tongue swipe across his cheek,

*Lick*

*"Giggle"*

"Eyah! Eyaaaah!" (Stop licking me! It tickles.) Austin shouted at the black-furred, golden-eyed kitten lying on his chest… 

When Austin opened his eyes after being born, a little black kitten the size of an adult's palm first greeted him. At first, he thought the kitten belonged to someone else, most likely his family's pet; however, instinctively, he felt a mysterious connection with the kitten. As if she belonged to him. Ever since then, the little furball had refused to get off his chest, even when his mother attempted to pry the kitten away, the kitten refused, holding onto the cloth that wrapped his body with her tiny little paws. Thankfully, she was not heavy, otherwise, his tiny little body might have suffocated. Also, Austin was not against the kitten's overly affectionate territorial behavior. In fact, Austin found her absolutely adorable. Her little black-furred body perfectly matched her golden feline eyes, further accentuating her adorable levels to sky-high. The black kitten's cuteness aside, Austin was in another predicament.

'I can't even speak… haah.' Austin was unsure how to feel about being reborn as a baby. He could barely move his body, and his ability to speak had been removed. All that left his mouth when he spoke English was baby language.